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RESTRAIN US, LORD

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Nov 17, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 46.

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RESTRAIN US, LORD.

By F. T. Elkin

[He first maddens whom he would destroy.]
Lord of our lives and earthly joys, Incline each wayward heart to Thee; Restrain the madness that destroys Our spark of immortality. When seething thoughts outrage Thy Word, Have mercy, O, have mercy, Lord!
Earth’s follies lure with conquering art,— The blood beats warm, the senses surge,— Sweet sin would nestle at the heart, And self conspires with hell to urge. Lord of our lives and earthly joys, Restrain the madness that destroys.
Gross Dives bloated to his doom, Yet prices crumbs to swell his worth; The poor repine in want and gloom, Or pawn “the Christ” for coin of earth. O Love unutterably free, Incline men’s hearts to charity!
Our hearts upraise a Juggernaut, And worship o’er a wealth of slain; We hoard a gold whereon is wrought The Caesar’s stamp and brand of Cain. Lord God, when flagrant greed alloys, Restrain the madness that destroys.
Lest honor, once the boast of kings, Become the bauble of the fool, Lest words that knew Thee, be but things To juggle with or ridicule, God of the world-creative Word, Restrain us, O, restrain us, Lord!
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Heaven’s gate is draped with crape, and slow Drips from the Christ the bloody price; The thorns press on the anguished brow Of the perpetual Sacrifice. Sweet, suffering Saviour, raise the mist; O, make us see and know “the Christ!”
F. T. Elkin.
Denver, Colo.